Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-04-15
CHAPTER Xxx.

CHAPTER Xxx.
After Paul had reported on the affairs
which Mr.. DelOrme had intrusted to him
and taken especial care to pay his particu
lar respects to SreiIa-whO had seemed
more and more pleased with him, now
that he seemed to be in full favor with
her father-he sought for Mrs. Delorme,
who he'd retired TO her favOrite sittin Q
room. He soon found her, calm and com
posed, without trace of her recent pas
sion visible.
81 am glad to see you, dear Paul." said
she. GLOW have things gone with you?
Did you break OFF that useless connection
in GalvestOn?"
ayes; and fear I have broken the
poor girls heart" he replied, gl0OmiIy.
'Psh&W! Have no fear of that. WO-
mems hearts don't break easily!'
"Seeing that you are woman, my
good aunt, I'll try and believe you. But
what do women generally do when those
whom they love turn the cold shoulder on
them?"
"Hate-hate a thousand times more
fierCeIY than they ever Ioved!" cried Mrs
DeIorme, so wildly that Paul started back
in terror, almost.
1ASNN NA1os ouALG' W La N-ASlOCC JOu 81"
he cried, in establishment. II ask you a
simple question, and you answer with
terrible vehemence -
"a pain darted through me at the mo-
ment | spoke-so severe, that l scarce
knew what 1 said," she replied, again as
calm as ever.
Have you seen Stella since you re-
turned?"
81 left her out moment before I came
here" was his reply. "She seems more
beautiful each time that | meet herr
"She is Z very lovely girl; and it Is
your own fault If she Is not soon your
wife"
"Will her father give his CONSENT"
"Ges; your recent bravery and general
good conduct have had a great effect
upon him; and | am confident he will
yield if you can win her love. In truth,
she has limited as much TO me-"
"Well, good aunt, will do my best. I
well even try and speak to her upon the
subject. But, aunt-changing this pleas
ant subject to less agreeable Oue-I
have message for you from the man who
you say Is my father; but, for my life, l
can't look upon him as SUCH"
Mrs. Delorme turned pale when she
nearQ these words.
"What message did John MaIerson send
me?" she asked in q husky tone.
GA bold one, which 1 told him you
would treat with scorn."
"Name it! name it! Judging from his
past, nothing in his future Will surprise
me-"
"He told me to tell you to send him
$4,000; and said that il you did not"
Paul hesitated.
"Speak on! What did ne threaten if I
did not?"
she said he would call on Mr.. Delorme
for it,"
ooh heaven! I must yield to his de
mandW groaned the u happy woman.
"Must, aunt? Must! What hold has
he upon you 10 torment you SOP"
"Paul, l cannot tell you; but for your
sake as well as my own l must aCCede to
his demand. How to get the sum with
out Mr.. Delorme's knowing the destina-
ton of it do not know, but it must and
shall be done! But, Paul, when you car
rY it to him beg him to go to some foreign
land, and to trouble me no more. If he
does not he shall force me to commit that
deed which shall rob him of all power
over mel"
"Aunt, you do not hint at suicide?"
81 do, Paul! God help me! 1 dol"
murmured the unhappy woman.
"What can be this terrible secret?"
murmured Paul to himself.
"Leave me now for time" said Mrs.